Current-wheel.



0. W. WATSON.

CURRENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19 1912.

Patented Jan. 6,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES [NVENTOR I 1% mm. v 57 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D c-.

O. W. WATSON.

CURRENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19,.1912.

1,083,472, Patented Jan 6, 1914.

2 SHEETSw-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES Q5019 5; INVENTOR fiEZQ O/P/P/A 1%%7J0/V COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH (20.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

"tlNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CURRENT-WHEEL.

Application filed November 19, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 732,336.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORRIN W. WArsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CurrentlVheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of hydraulic motors known as current wheels, the wheel being submerged in a stream so as to be impelled by the current thereof.

It is the object of the invention to provide a current wheel having a series of pivoted blades which are arranged so that the full power of the current is utilized, and which blades swing automatically to a position so as to offer a minimum amount of resistance to the rotation of the wheel as they travel against the current. ject is attained by a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a transverse section of the wheel, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the blades. Fig. 4c is a perspective View showing a slightly modified structural detail.

In the drawing, 10 denotes the hub of the wheel, the same being carried by a shaft or axle 11 from which the power is taken in any suitable or preferred manner. The wheel is adapted to be entirely submerged in a stream and it is rotated by the current working against the blades thereof. The shaft is supported in horizontal position, which places the wheel vertically in the stream. The shaft may also be positioned vertically to place the wheel horizontally. Any suitable bearings and supports for the shaft may be provided, and these have not been illustrated as they form no part of the present invention.

From the hub 10 radiate spokes 12 which may be connected at their extremities by a rim 18. Three hubs and a corresponding number of sets of spokes are shown which are spaced from each other laterally. The spokes of the respective sets are in alinement and each row of spokes carries a series of pivoted blades 14 which are so positioned relative to each other and of such a length that they lap each other a short distance when they are closed up, thus making one This obwater-tight blade against which the current works. The blades extend throughout the entire length of the wheel.

The blades are secured to angle arms having two branches 15 and 16, respectively, arranged slightly obtuse at a right angle to one another. At the junction of the branches the arms have a slot 17 through which the spokes 12 loosely pass, which 10- cates the branches on opposite sides of the spokes. A bolt 18 passing through the slotted portion of the arms and the spokes pivotally connects the arms to the spokes. The slots 17 are of such a length that the arms have a suflicient swing to allow the blades to open and close. The blades are fastened to the branches 15 of the arms, which branches are longer than the branches 16.

In practice, the wheel is set in the stream so that it is entirely submerged, and the current working against the blades causes the wheel to rotate in an obvious manner. Fig. 1 clearly shows the positions the blades assume during each cycle of operation. The arrows indicate the direction of the current. When the water strikes the blades on one side, that side is faced to the current, and during their travel from the lower vertical center line of the wheel to the horizontal center line, the blades turn automatically, so that the current strikes them on the other face and drives them forward a quarter revolution. By this automatic changing of the position of the blades the power of the wheel is greatly increased.

It will be noted that the blades, when passing upward from the horizontal center line to the upper vertical center line, extend at an obtuse angle to a line projected radially from the axis of the wheel, in view of which they are presented at an acute angle to the current, and the water therefore glides over the lower faces of the blades and acts on the same to rotate the wheel. The current is therefore exerted against the blades throughout practically three-fourths of the revolution of the wheel. When the blades reach thenpper vertical center line and travel downward to the horizontal center line they assume a horizontal position so as to feather or come edgewise to the current, to allow the water to pass between the blades and thus ofi'er a minimum amount of resistance to the rotation of the wheel. When the blades pass downward from the horizontal center line, they face the current, and the cycle herein described is repeated. The branches 15 engage the spokes 12 and hold the blades facing the current, and the branches 16 in a similar manner hold the blades at an acute angle to the current, as hereinbefore described.

Fig. 4: shows a slightly modified form of angle arm. .The arm has two laterally spaced branches 19 connected at one end by a cross bar 20. The spoke 12 extends between the branches as shown by dotted lines. The pivotal connection between the arm and the spoke is made at the angle. This structure makes it possible for the blade to engage the spoke when it faces the current.

I claim:

1. A current wheel having pivoted blades, means for holding the blades faced to the current when on one side of the axis of the Wheel, and means for holding the blades at an obtuse angle to a line projected radially from the pivot to the axis of the wheel during a portion of their travel on the other side of said axis.

2. A current wheel having pivoted blades, means for holding the blades faced to the current when on one side of the axis of the wheel, and means for holding the blades at an obtuse angle to a line projected radially from the pivot to the axis of the wheel during a portion of their travel on the other side of said axis, said blades feathering during the remainder of such travel.

3. A current wheel comprising a hub, spokes extending therefrom, angular arms pivoted to the spokes, said arms having slots at their angle through which the spokes loosely pass to locate the branches of the arms on opposite sides of the spokes, and

blades carried by one of the branches of thearms, the other branches being engageable with the spokes to limit the swing of the blades to a position where they extend at an obtuse angle to a line projected radially from the pivot to the axis of the wheel.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORRIN w. WATSON.

Witnesses GRETA PATTIsoN, PAUL PATTISON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

